The First Part Last by Angela Johnson is one of my favorite young adult books. Although teen pregnancy is a somewhat common topic in young adult literature, Johnson covers it in a very unique, captivating way in The First Part Last.

The two defining features of this novel for me are the male protagonist and the setting alternating between present (now) and past (then) throughout the story. I appreciated the male protagonist because it seems to me that it is uncommon in literature about teen pregnancy. I think it is good especially for young men to see another male take responsiblity and really want to be an active parent even though it means making many sacrifices. Too often in literature and news the single parent home is run by the mother. So I am thankful Johnson created such a strong, passionate male protagonist.

Normally when I am reading alternating time frames, I end up wanting to read all of one time frame at a time. However in this book, I was captivated from start to finish. Each chapter felt like just enough time spent in that setting before switching. It was a unique way to present a common theme and I definitely enjoyed it.

Overall I think this is a wonderful book not only for recreational reading, but high school classrooms covering teen issues. ( )

Bobby has to be a man before he is done being a boy. At 16 yrs. he is the father of Feather. Nia, his daughter's mother, has fallen into an irreversible coma. (assumed to be caused by childbirth). The baby that Bobby and Nia once agreed to put up for adoption is now the only memory Bobby has of Nia, so he decides to keep the baby and raise her himself.

Sleepless nights, fussy baby, messy diapers, and formula in the bottle as well as spit-up. Feather consumes Bobby's world. The story is written in alternating scenarios Then and Now.

THEN Bobby would pull pranks, party with friends, and get "juiced" tagging walls. NOW he must focus on school and his daughter. He tells her about her mother and takes Feather to see Nia at the nursing home.

As the story ends Bobby leaves New York for Heaven,Ohio. He will leave to live with his brother Paul. Taking life as it comes, in Heaven, with Feather. The new start seems to be positive and fresh. I think with Paul, as a young father himself, Bobby will learn to be the man he needs to be ( )

Booklist (September 1, 2003)
Gr. 6-12. Bobby, the teenage artist and single-parent dad inohnson's Coretta Scotting Award winner, Heaven (1998), tells his story here. At 16, he's scared to be raising his baby, Feather, but he's totally devoted to caring for her, even as she keeps him up all night, and he knows that his college plans are on hold. In short chapters alternating between now and then, he talks about the baby that now fills his life, and he remembers the pregnancy of his beloved girlfriend, Nia. Yes, the teens' parents were right. The couple should have used birth control; adoption could have meant freedom. But when Nia suffers irreversible postpartum brain damage, Bobby takes their newborn baby home. There's no romanticizing. The exhaustion is real, and Bobby gets in trouble with the police and nearly messes up everything. But from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world: what it's like to hold Feather on his stomach, smell her skin, touch her clenched fists, feel her shiver, and kiss the top of her curly head.ohnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again. The great cover photo shows the strong African American teen holding his tiny baby in his arms. --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2003 Booklist

VOYA (June 1, 2003)
Bobby spends his sixteenth birthday with his friends K-Boy and J.L., skipping school, visiting the Empire State Building, and eating junk food. That evening, Bobby's girlfriend Nia tells him that she is pregnant, forever changing their lives. Nia's parents and a social worker convince the teenage couple that they should give their baby up for adoption, but when disaster strikes Nia, Bobby ends up a single father. Told through Bobby's eyes in spare, eloquent prose, this affecting prequel to Heaven (Simon & Schuster, 1998/VOYA February 1999) is no stereotypical teenage pregnancy story but the heartfelt tale of one young man's decision to keep his child, no matter the consequences. A quintessential urban teen, Bobby is not the conventional tough guy; he conveys his emotions of sorrow and love in touching, realistic ways. Bobby's thoughts on the adults in his life honestly reflect both his appreciation for and confusion about their actions. Bobby is quite mature and insightful, and his love for his daughter, Feather, is genuine. One of the story's finest features is the touching portrayal of a young father's love for his baby. This compelling tale of a teenage father provides a stellar addition to young adult fiction. Bobby makes mistakes, and his life is very difficult, but his courage, love, and hope enable him to carry on. The supportive adults and friends in his life aid him as well. Realistic characters, an honest look at teen pregnancy, and Bobby's thoughts and dreams combine in a wonderful novel sure to appeal to most young adult readers.-Rachelle Bilz. I'm really glad that Johnson wrote this prequel to Heaven. Bobby was a character that everyone wanted to know more about. This well-written book is not like anything that I've ever read before. It goes fast and has realistic fiction, romance, and suspense all in one. Most teen pregnancy books are about what the girl goes through, but this one is written from a different, exciting angle. Both girls and boys can read it.-Teens' Top Ten nominator, age 13. ( )

I really enjoyed this book you can never get bored with this book. You always find yourself reading it ( )

Sixteen-year-old Bobby is living with his mom, trying to finish up high school, and raising his baby daughter by himself. With chapters alternating between "now" and "then", this tells the story of how Bobby ended up a single parent and what happens after.

This was well-written and enjoyable, though I thought having Nia end up a vegetable in a nursing home was a little over the top. It's nice to see a book about a teen father (and a black teen father at that), and I liked that even though Bobby's parents were divorced, his dad was still in the picture and he even goes to live with his dad near the end. His older brother is also shown being an active parent to his own kids. ( )